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Post by tjstrat on Apr 30, 2006 13:14:37 GMT -7
After being knocked out over and over during the last couple of months by some newly acquired Mazs, I pulled the trigger on a Carmen Ghia this past week, picked it up on the way to the gig, and was knocked out yet again. The other amps are terrific, almost unbelieveable amps, but for a long time die hard effects loop and channel switching amp guy like me to be bowled over by something as simple as the Ghia was really something.
Someone else in the forum here really hit the nail on the head when he or she said that they were tired of spending time tweaking and just wanted something that would kill at just about any setting. The Ghia sounded incredible, and though I couldn't really crank it (I'm using 75 and 200 watt speakers, so speaker breakup isn't in the cards for me), with a Fulltone FD II and an OCD, as well as with a Banzai Fireball and a Jauernig overdrive, it sounded BETTER than a million bucks. Roared with my guitars full up, sang with them at 8, and growled at 6. And then at 5 was clean enough for me to fingerpick Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide". Incredible isn't a good enough word for it.
My hat's off to the Dr, it really is. I can't imagine a better sounding amp at any price, much less the $800.00 or so I paid. All I can say is ... MAAAAAN...
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Post by tjstrat on May 6, 2006 9:46:22 GMT -7
The Ghia came through again last night, sounding terrific with an Analog Man Mini BiComp's Juicer side and an OCD doing almost all the driving. I could dial down for fingerpicking and then crank for leads. A lesson to be learned: sometimes trying something that you never thought you'd go for brings benefits far beyond what you thought possible. This amp really is everything everyone says it is.
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Post by guitarboy02451 on May 22, 2006 15:08:00 GMT -7
Yeah, the Ghia is a sweet little box. It really sings with a Zen Drive in front of her. My Sr. is starting to get a little jealous. She hasn't been turned on since the Ghia has arrived! First gig with the Ghia is in a week or so, normally nothing but stunning results with the Sr. But.. I'll report back with how it turns out with the Ghia... pg
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Post by tjstrat on May 25, 2006 14:58:23 GMT -7
I have a Zen Drive on order, hopefully due in August. Right now the boxes in front are mostly an OCD after a mini bicomp and a Clyde, with the dual DGTM, a Homebrew Power Screamer, or a Fulldrive II in there. Also a Barge Concepts boost. But I can't wait for the Zen to arrive...
That said, I will probably play the Maz Sr Studio Lead THIS Saturday. Trying out some new Mullard and Tung Sol reissues...
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Post by bustertheboy on May 26, 2006 16:32:45 GMT -7
give some nos tubes a go- may i suggest nos or anos GE 12ax7 and 5751 from www.tubedepot.com ? made huge difference to my ghia- well what is a huge difference to an already amazing sounding amp? still it doesn't seem to obey the law of diminishing returns does it? more like not better but different - and that different is more betterer as my kids would say!
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Post by tjstrat on May 26, 2006 19:14:11 GMT -7
Actually, this Ghia CAME with the exact tubes you mention. GE in V1 and a National 5751 in V2. Nice JJ 84s too. I'm not foolin' with the Ghia, because it sounds absolutely amazing as is. the reissue tubes I'm trying in the Studio Lead.
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